Neil Brown6d ago

Google: pay and register as a developer with us, or your users must wait a day after deciding to install your app.

No surprise that the alternative to handing over ID, money, and contractual agreement to Google is a hostile experience for users.

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html?m=1

#keepandroidopen

Android developer verification: Balancing openness and choice with safety

News and insights on the Android platform, developer tools, and events.

Android Developers Blog
Show threadNeil Brown6d ago
"Give us money and data, or your users' experience will suck" is, apparently, "balance".
Show threadNeil Brown6d ago

Selfishly, I will not be affected by this, because I use a version of Android without Google - GrapheneOS.

But this will be of little solace for the myriad users stuck with Google-flavoured Android, who did not agree to this ludicrous dance simply to be able to install software on their own phone.

#KeepAndroidOpen

Show threadKen Milmore6d ago
@neil Are you running that on a Pixel or a non-Google device?
Show threadNeil Brown6d ago
@kbm0 Pixel
Show threadKen Milmore6d ago
@neil 😭
Show threadNeil Brown
@kbm0 There is a Motorola device coming, but I will need to upgrade before then.
Mar 19 at 7:30pmWeb
Show threadKen Milmore6d ago
@neil Ooh thanks for the tip, I will wait and see what happens. Not sure yet quite how unworkable all the F-Droid apps will become.